Composite material, components suitable for use in composite material and related methods and structures

Abstract

A composite material having a plurality of drainage members intersecting to provide interconnected fluid drainage paths.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A component for a composite material, the component comprising: a sheet structure including a plurality of tubular drainage members intersecting one another to provide internal fluid drainage paths that are mutually interconnected by a plurality of openings between the drainage members, wherein the mutually interconnected drainage paths are provided within the sheet structure creating a drainage member material formed by the intersecting drainage members, and wherein the plurality of openings comprise more than 50% of the cross sectional area of the component. 
     
     
       2. The component of  claim 1 , bounded by a drainage member along each of its edges. 
     
     
       3. The component of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid drainage paths are arranged to provide a continuous fluid path through the composite material in two non-parallel directions. 
     
     
       4. The component of  claim 1 , wherein fluid drainage paths of the component are all mutually interconnected. 
     
     
       5. The component of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage members are formed of crossing strips of drainage material. 
     
     
       6. The component of  claim 5 , wherein a fluid path is provided at the intersections between the strips of drainage material such that fluid can flow between the strips of drainage material. 
     
     
       7. The component of  claim 1  wherein each opening in the component has a boundary comprising a drainage member. 
     
     
       8. The component of  claim 1  wherein the drainage members comprise fluid drainage paths that form a first, micro drainage structure of the component, and the drainage members between openings in the component defines a macro drainage structure. 
     
     
       9. The component of  claim 8  wherein the micro drainage structure is provided by the fluid drainage paths within the drainage member material. 
     
     
       10. The component of  claim 1  wherein the fluid drainage paths are provided by fluid permeable portions of the component. 
     
     
       11. A composite material, the material comprising a first component in combination with a second component, wherein the first component is that of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. The component of  claim 1 , wherein the openings have a width dimension of greater than 50 mm across the component. 
     
     
       13. The component of  claim 1 , wherein the openings have a width dimension of greater than 100 mm across the component. 
     
     
       14. The component of  claim 1 , wherein the openings have a length dimension of greater than 50 mm across the component. 
     
     
       15. The component of  claim 1 , wherein the openings have a length dimension of greater than 100 mm across the component.